Governor Nikki Haley said in a press conference that “this is a new day” as she appointed Tim Scott as the next senator from South Carolina to fill Jim DeMint’s spot. Haley spoke of Scott’s help in the fight against unions and focused on his pro-business bona fides: “He understands the strength that we need to have in our business community as we continue to focus on jobs,” said Haley. She also stressed that Congressman Scott earned his seat.

Upon taking the podium Scott first asked the audience to join him in a moment of silence for those mourning in Connecticut and then gave thanks to Jesus Christ: “Our nation finds itself in a position where we need some backbone…we have a spending problem, ladies and gentlemen, and not a revenue problem.”